Networking needn’t be rocket Science !!!!!

Twelve top tips to help you network with confidence.

Take a deep breath…..

  • Confidence
  • Fear of approaching strangers
  • Death came third

Networking is not selling……

  • Dont sell to people
  • Focus on who they know rather than them
  • If talking to people at Networking meetings they are looking for the same as you

Giving…..

  • Give to receive
  • What goes around comes around
  • Help others first and comes back to you ten-fold
  • Giving first inspires others to give in return and become your champion

Ask for what you want………..

  • If you don’t ask for what you want how can you possibly expect to get it.
  • Know exactly what it is you want and plan how to approach getting it.
  • The law of Six Degrees of Separation states be as specific as possible; plan and prepare

Playing games……

  • Lots get this wrong
  • Collecting business cards is not what networking is all about.
  • Cards are a tool to help you follow up at a later stage.
  • What do you do with the cards you have collected at an event?
  • Most people will bin them or file them away for later reference and then forget conversations they had with the cards owners.

You have two ears and one mouth…..

  • The greatest asset of any networker is ‘the ability to listen ‘for’ people rather than listen ‘to’ them’.
  • Effective networking involves listening to others
  • considering how we can help them and who we can introduce them to

Ask the right questions……..

  • Listening should be proactive and not reactive, develop the conversation by asking the right Q
  • Don’t go to events with prepared questions for others let conversation flow.
  • Ask Q about them and might help assist in helping you to help them

Capture the imagination……

  • Elevator pitch
  • Build curiosity
  • Remembering, that other people are primarily interested in themselves
  • When you do speak about your business try and capture the other person’s imagination
  • Many of us carry pre-conceptions about certain businesses or types – mental barriers
  • Have a clear message that you can deliver to anyone who asks ‘what do you do’

Being there……

  • “You have to be in it to win it”. Networking takes commitment which starts with booking the event and being there on time.
  • The more events you attend the more your face will become known.
  • Treat them as appointments and not meetings
  • Change your mindset

Become a collector of people………..

  • As time goes by you will meet lots of people through networking
  • People become part of your sphere of contacts,
  • The more people know of you the more you can be connected to your ideal clients
  • Well connected people are collectors of people

The secret is in the follow-up ………

  • Networking can be fun and often great social occasions, but it all amounts to nothing if you don’t follow up the contacts made afterwards.
  • Don’t promise to do something for someone if you cant follow it through
  • This is the real key
  • Email or phone
  • Send a postcard to say thanks

Patience is a virtue……

  • The event is just the start of the process.
  • The focus of networking is on building relationships and that can take time.
  • Don’t write off contacts just because they don’t produce immediate results, keep in touch, look to see how you can help them first
  • Benefits may not come directly, give it some time
  • Set some goals or targets